Young people

When I’m with one of my kids, I realize what a blessing the youth are. They challenge us with fresh and new perspectives, taking into account all that they’ve been taught. The prophet, Jeremiah, was a youth when God called him to speak up. He took into account what he had been taught, (saying that he was only a youth). In essence, God told him, “it didn’t matter- I’m the one calling you to speak”!! It takes courage to fly in the face of tradition. Did we do this when we were youths? Why does it surprise us when our children walk the God-ordained path set before them? – Teresa #chosen #uniquelyHis

Jeremiah 1:1-2:30 English Standard Version (ESV)

1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

The Call of Jeremiah

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;

for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,

and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

declares the Lord.”

Who is it we long for?

Listening to some love songs this week, I was feeling the vibe of “Don’t Know Much”, sung by Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt. My Bible reading today expressed this same “first love” feeling I had for the Savior back in 1979. Strangely, it hit me as vibrantly today as my passion carried me then (when I’d sing at the top of my lungs with my car windows rolled down driving the country roads home after work). He makes all things new! His love changes our whole identity (and is like a foundation holding us strong). His praise is so easy to sing out when He brings us from death to life. -Teresa #IdontknowmuchbutIknowIlove…

Isaiah 43:16-21 (ESV)

Thus says the Lord,

who makes a way in the sea,

a path in the mighty waters,

who brings forth chariot and horse,

army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise,

they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

“Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

The wild beasts will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

Ephesians 3: 13-21 (ESV)

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 68:4-6 (ESV)

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the Lord;

exult before him!

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Preparations

There are many rooms in the Father’s house. Jesus is preparing them for his disciples and for all who walk by faith when He returns to earth (in order to bring us to live with Him in heaven). Eternal life is so much more than experiencing the richness of God’s kingdom (streets of gold). More importantly, it includes close fellowship or relationships! How do we get to be a part of this? Read the answer below in verse six. Eternal life begins the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (we are all eternal beings and at this moment we cross from death to life). He desires for us to know the trinity in a personal way. Has God ever spoken into your individual circumstances? If so, you can trust that He will fulfill all His promises.- Teresa

John 14 (ESV) 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14: 1-7

Faith

Would our day be a bit lighter if we simply understood God’s plan, purpose and power to sustain us? We can perform to the best of our ability but at some point we must put our trust in Him! In that space, we can let the clouds or burdens of our soul become light around us. He has made a great promise that was first told to us through (father) Abraham: justification by faith. What a great Biblical foundational truth: substitutionary atonement. It is all about His great gift to us. Are we ready to receive it and walk in step with it?- Teresa #deadmanwalkingbytheSpirit

Galatians 2:17-3:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[a] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[b] the flesh? 4 Did you suffer[c] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[d] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Footnotes:

a Galatians 2:21 Or justification

b Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with

c Galatians 3:4 Or experience

d Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24

English Standard Version (ESV)

Comforted

What a great God we have. He comforts those who inhabit Zion (poetic version of: those in Jerusalem as God’s chosen people who put their trust in Him. This also includes those who are born again at the foot of the cross [Christ’s crucifixion took place on Mount Moriah-see Lambert Dolphin’s Mount Moriah, site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem @ templemount.org, 1996]. Christ followers are grafted in/adopted as Zion’s children.) I need His comfort daily. We can rejoice whenever we listen to the scripture sung in Handel’s Messiah (“comfort ye”). -Teresa #Heisgreat

Isaiah 12:1-6 (ESV)

You[a] will say in that day:

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,

for though you were angry with me,

your anger turned away,

that you might comfort me.

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God[b] is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy you[c] will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;

let this be made known[d] in all the earth.

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,

for great in your[e] midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

Solid ground

Lembert Dome is a welcome sight for hikers coming out of the back country. There are times when our psyche is saturated with adjusting to shifting trends/mores of our culture. We can always look to God and His word to provide direction and solid ground. As refreshing as the sight of the Dome is to hikers, God’s word is to those who are weary. – Teresa #God’speaceamidsthestorm

Psalm 56: 3,4 ( ESV)

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

Worship

A sacrifice of praise and worship flows from those whose hope is in God. David lived on the run, being hunted down by King Saul and associates. In time, his own elevation to king would not change David’s passion for worship. Whether in a high place or lowly, we can worship-thankful for God’s mercy and grace. When our teacher (Rabboni) and Lord (Jesus Christ) washed the feet of his disciples, He displayed a new way to love one another. Not out of powerful status or position but out of pouring His life forth confidently in service to those called His. – Teresa #givingoutofullness #confidentinhisidentity #wearecalledsonsandaughtersofourfather #loveoneanother

Psalm 54: 4-7 (ESV)

Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my life.

He will return the evil to my enemies;

in your faithfulness put an end to them.

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;

I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

For he has delivered me from every trouble,

and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

More than a vain moment

Who is it that you are close to? Is there a time when you were against all odds but someone was there to help pull you through? The book of Ecclesiastes, which speaks of “vanity”-or that which is short-lived, messages the importance of our hope for eternity. Phil Wickham’s song, Til I Found You, speaks of our need to have a relationship that will last or count for more than just a vain moment. When your relationship has Christ as the center, you have a threefold cord- not easily broken. – Teresa #toiltogether #staywarm #withstandopposition #rewardofwisdom #buildthehouse #filltheroomswithtreasure

Ecclesistes 4:6-9 (ESV)

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 15:6 (NIV)

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

Proverbs 24:3,4 (NIV)

3 By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.

New creatures

When you wake up outdoors and see a new day beginning with the activity of many creatures, rejoice! It is through the beauty of creation that we understand God’s love. He is great and greatly to be praised. The one question you can ask about your life activity is: Is it righteous? Choosing the path that is straight will make a bigger mark on your community than choosing what is trending or popular for the hour. Only through our Creator God do we have an opportunity to be righteous. – Teresa #trendsofhistorydistractusfromrealpurpose #ScrewtapeLettersbyCSLewis #readch.25 #loonsmateforlife

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes:

a 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature

b 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

English Standard Version (ESV)

New body and new determination

Have you ever developed a dream board with images of what it is you’re working toward? By adopting this practice, I have prioritized my medical weight management goals to be in the forefront of my vision. No matter what the ups and downs of the metrics are, I am seeing the slow transformation of building lean muscle and strength- one day at a time. In this passage, Paul expresses the miracle of our resurrection body.

When we visualize the promise of being “in Christ” and allowing His resurrection power to transform us, we are filled with new determination to live out verse 58. -Teresa

#steadfast #immoveable #alwaysaboundingintheworkoftheLord #knowingthatourlaborisnotinvain #intheLord

I Corinthians 15: 35-58 (ESV)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[b] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[c] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Footnotes:

a 1 Corinthians 15:33 Probably from Menander’s comedy Thais

b 1 Corinthians 15:45 Greek a living soul

c 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some manuscripts let us